Food dispenser



F. E. WOLCOTT FOOD YDISPENSER May 5, 1942;

Fild Deo. 15, 1958 Patented May 5, 1942 one sr res -r torrici?.f

5 Claims.

proved dispenser for comestibles or the like having improved and simplied resilient means for effecting iiow therefrom. A further object is to provide improved quick detachable and connectible connecting means for said flow controlling means interlocked therewith. A still further object of my invention is to provide such improved flow controlling means and connecting means therefor included in an improved quick detachable and connectible closure construction. Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved quick detachable and connectible cap member cooperating in an improved manner with an improved combined sealing land actuating disc, and to provide such animproved construction whereby it is made possible to obtain the above results while producing an exceedingly simple, convenient, readily cleansed, and attract-ive construction, and one which is also 'adapted to be readily and inexpensively manufactured. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however,

Yhereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown lfor purposes of illustration two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a-dispenser conii structed in accordance With my improvements, the same being shown in its container in the position occupied when not in use;

Fig. 4.9.. is a vertical sectional view on line 2'-2 Aof Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the construction 'shown in Figure l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partially in section, of the dispenser removed from its support, with the cap and the flexible sealing and actuating disc shown in spaced relation to each other and in section above the dispenser to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the resilient sealinggand actuating disc, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view of a modified form of the sealing and actuating disc. l Referring first to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, it willbe noted that my improved dispenser, generally indicated at I, is seated, when 'notin use, in the open top of an upstanding container 2, while being removable therefrom whenever desired for use; this dispenser herein having an improved closure and actuating structure, 'hereinafter described.

Referring more particularlyto the dispenser l, it willfbe noted that the same is herein in the yform of a transparent glass container having a slio'ulder A3 substantially midway between its ends adapted to project above theupper edge il of the container Y2, `while the lower end of the dispenser, provided With a bottom outlet 5, is received vertically within the container 2; the upper end of the dispenser projecting above the container 2 and being provided with a roughened or corrugated portion f6 in such manner as to permit the dispenser to'be readily grasped for use whenever desired. Further, it will be noted that improved combined closure and flow controlling means are provided on the upper end extremity of the dispenser l.

In this improved construction on the upper end of the dispenser, vit will be noted that the latter is provided with a shoulder 1 near its upper end, and a, coarse threaded portion 8 above this shoulder, this threaded *portion herein comprising v'a single thread and surrounding an open neck-9 of slightly less than the full diameter of the corrugated portion 6 and through which the dispenser l is adapted to Abe filled. Upon the vupper edge of `this-neck 9, an improved resilient combined sealing and actuating member |56, herein a disc of rubber, is provided. As shown, the 'upper edge of the neck SJ is fiat, and the disc I 'Gis provided with a peripheral bottom edge or flange surface lIl engaging with the fiat edge of the neck 9 and surrounding the open bottom of an axialfresilient, and normally raised but v'shallow dornewpo'rtion i2 forming the body of the disc I9. This-portion l'2`a1so has a central upwardly projecting portion l3 thereon adapted to be engaged and depressed by a nger, and herein is valso Aprov'i'dedwitha small axial air passage I4 leadin'gthrough this portion i3 to the interior l5 ofthe dispenser I. As shown, the disc l0 is also provided with an upstanding annular flange i6 around its periphery, herein projecting upv/'ard directly above the seal provided by the engagement of the portion i I with the top -edge ofthe neck 9 'andl of slightly smaller cross section vthan the portion l'l. Moreover, it will be `observed that 'an annular connecting cap member I1 is 'provided which has a threaded portion engageable with the threaded portion 8 'on the neck 9, a preferably roughened grasping portion'l8,'and a lower flange |94; these portions of the cap being 'adapted to be disposed around Athe ureduced neck 9 in 'such'inanner that with the caplthr'ead'ed "o" he porti'on'ff, the upper end of 'the disifiense'r"is/"rif 'substantially the Adiameter of the corrugated portion E thereon. Moreover, it will be observed that the cap II is provided with a portion extending laterally above the iiange I6 and provided with a somewhat wider annular groove 20 adapted to interlock this flange, while a further inwardly extending upwardly curved abutment portion 2| of annular form overlies and protects the portion of the resilient dome-like portion I2 inside the upstanding flange I6 on the disc I0, while being spaced from the central projection I3 in such manner as to allow free downward movement of the portion I2 and provide an abutment for an upper face thereof conforming to the curvature of the latter and limiting upward movement thereof.

Thus, it will be observed that when the cap I'I is threaded on the threads 8 on the neck 9, the resilient sealing anges I I and I6 on the disc I will be compressed by the cooperating groove 20 of the cap II in such manner as not only effectually to prevent too great downward movement or release of the disc, but also to form an effective seal around the top of the dispenser. It will also be observed that the portion 2I on the cap I'I cooperates to provide a protecting and limiting means for the adjacent resilient dome portion I2 of the disc Ill, while permitting the projection I3 on that member to be readily depressed as desired. Further, it will be evident that the construction is such that downward pressure of a finger on the projection I3, the iinger then being over the port I4 therein, will cause the dome to collapse and thereby cause pressure to be exerted on the top of any material in the dispenser I5 in such manner as to effect discharge through the bottom outlet '5. Moreover, the inherent resiliency in the disc III, here formed of rubber, is such as to cause the dome I2 thereof to be returned automatically when the finger is removed, to the normal position shown in Figure 2, wherein the periphery of the portion l2 engages the inner surface of the portion 2i and is thus limited in its upward movement and protected by the latter portion.

As a result of my improvements, the construci.

tion, while being very eiective in operation, is also markedly simple in use and in manufacture. Thus, it permits quick and ready removal or connection of the-cover, as necessary, incident to filling or cleansing without requiring time-consuming and troublesome tting on or taking off of an expansible cover. More particularly, it is necessary only to rotate the cap through a small number of degrees in order to permit the same to be lifted off and simultaneously release the sealing and actuating disc I 0, which, due to its upstanding flange I6 and the threads on the cap, is retained in the latter and removable therewith. It will also be noted that the construction is sanitary, the disc I0 being readily separated from the cap whenever desired by simply pushing in on the projection I3. The construction further makes it possible to substitute a new actuator when desired, with facility and with a minimum of expense. Moreover, note that the structure of the disc I0 is such as to enable the latter to be of simple and rugged construction and to have long life in service. My improved structure also enables the cap member I'I to be formed of a small quantity of suitable material, as for example, any suitable molded and colored material, in such manner as to produce an inexpensive and attractive construction, while this cap member, not being subject to deterioration, is adapted to long life in service. Attention is further directed to the fact that in my improved construction it is possible for the dispenser I to be filled while supported in the upstanding container 2, the cap I'I and disc I0 being so readily separable from and connectible to the dispenser as to make this possible, and any suitable closure means (not shown) for the bottom outlet 5 being provided in the bottom of the member 2.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified form of discy I0, wherein, instead of the port I4, there is no opening through the disc; this being a form which may be used with other types of liquids. The construction otherwise being the same as heretofore described, it enables certain of the advantages thereof to be obtained, while, through the vacuum created as the dome I2 springs upward following release, this construction also makes it possible to suck back any liquid protruding from the outlet 5 when the finger is removed from the projection I3.

While I have in this application specifically described certain forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these are shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a dispenser, a container having an outlet and an apertured lling portion at opposite ends, a iiow controlling resilient disc closing said portion, and an axially apertured enclosing cap clamping said disc on said container, said disc having a resilient dome portion and said cap having an annular portion normally engaging said dome portion.

2. In an actuating mechanism for a dispenser, a cap having internally threaded means thereon, a portion overlying the top of said threaded means and having an annular groove therein, and a resilient actuating member having a dome operable through said cap, -a bottom peripheral sealing portion and an upstanding peripheral flange receivable in said groove, said cap having an axall aperture in its top and abutment means for said dome surrounding said aperture and between the same and said annular groove.

3. A cap for dispensers comprising an annular member having threaded means on its inner periphery and an axial aperture in its top, a downwardly opening annular groove around the top of said threaded means, and domed overlying abutment means surrounding and extending from said annular groove and having said aperture therein.

4. In an actuating mechanism for a dispenser, a cap having internally threaded means thereon, a portion overlying the top of said threaded means, a resilient actuating member having a dome in engagement with said overlying portion and a projection on said dome operable through an aperture in said cap.

5. In an actuating mechanism for a dispenser, a cap having internally threaded means thereon, a portion overlying the top of said threaded means and having an annular groove therein, a resilient actuating member having an upstanding peripheral flange receivable in said groove and a domed portion operable through an aperture in said cap, and an inwardly extending iiange in said cap in abutment with said domed portion.

FRANK E. WOLCOTT. 

